There’s a lot of discussion underway about the legalities of abortion and women’s right to choose, of which I am a firm supporter. I believe strongly that everyone has the right to make decisions about their own bodies and health, as enshrined in the 1946 Constitution of the World Health Organization—and as we should all …

What’s in a like? Not much, really—another toggle from 0 and 1; an electronic stamp of approval, existing nowhere real and barely contemplated. It is reactionary. Visible, yes, but hardly tangible. Constructed. Created. Imaginary. But it feels good. And sometimes it even matters. This week, in my Psych Café series at UBC (in which my …

Narcissism, egotism, aggression, dishonesty, far-right extremism, and white nationalism (all of which have been collectively referred to as “Trumpism”) are on the rise around the world, influencing average citizens and political leaders alike—and significantly compromising the common good. This is how to stop it… What follows is a slightly revised, late-night train of thought on …

In the movie Back to the Future,a pivotal moment surrounds Marty McFly’s ability to cement his parents’ romance—in the past. His entire existence, his future, hinges on this. See, George McFly and Lorraine Baine had originally fallen in love at the ‘Enchantment Under the Sea’ Dance on November 12, 1955. This is where they had their …

Rising sea levels, ocean acidification, deforestation, ecological collapse—should our time on Earth end early, these are some of the means by which it will happen, given current trends. But these things, they’re not our real killers… From a psychological perspective, it would be wise to consider the human qualities underlying the environmental changes that now …

What is tolerance? What does it mean to be tolerant? And what exactly is it that should be tolerated in the first place? On its surface, the notion of tolerance may seem fairly simplistic and straightforward. But one need only peruse the comment section of any news story about human rights (either related progresses or …

What is it going to take to make this work? This is a question I leave with my students in my final lecture of personality psychology, a class that is both advanced degree fulfillment and crash course in human nature. The question is a reflection on just that—our nature. But I must admit that it …

The future is not as I imagined it would be when I was a child. In the seventh grade I submitted a science report entitled Will the Earth Ever End? I’ll admit, I’ve been pretty fascinated with apocalyptic scenarios since I was quite young. My report included everything from environmental collapse to a large-scale alien …

Donald Trump now formally occupies what is arguably one of the most powerful seats in the world. On the surface, this may seem like it has very little to do with me or my politics as a Canadian. But when I take a step back, I see the bigger picture. This world is reaching a …

It seems, after all, that in this one we find ourselves together. There is a theory in quantum physics called the many-worlds interpretation, which postulates the existence of an infinite number of alternate universes, each with a slight variation on past and each with multiple variations on future to come. It is the idea that …